Piper PA 28-236 accident near Chino, California, May 27, 1986
On May 27, 1986 at about 9:36 am local time, a Piper PA 28-236, registered N43504, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chino, California (Chino airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 27, 1986 · about 9:36 am local time
- Place
- Chino, California · Chino · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 28-236 · all PA 28-236s on the register
- Registration
- N43504 · no longer on the register · serial 28-8411015
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT, OVERFLEW HIS HOME AIRPORT BY 23 NAUTICAL MILES UPON RETURNING FROM A NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT AND DESCENDED INTO A HILL. INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WERE REPORTED IN THE AREA DUE TO REDUCED VISIBILITY. THE PLT HAD FLOWN 10 HRS DURING THE LAST 24 HRS.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 115 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 66 in the last 90 days; 39 in the last 30 days; 65 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 419 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1986; 137 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J3A5D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: California Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: FAT Fresno CA at 7:55 am
- Destination: EMT El Monte CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 am from ONT, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N43504 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.